help! i have no golden ears

[mike c]

me and my fiance were walking around audio stores (every week )

as we went by a guy demo'ing B&W 805 bookshelves ... she said "hey, those sound really good" (while she didn't know what the brand was, nor how much they cost, she did not even know from which speakers the music was coming from [being a demo place with tons of speakers up front])

I said, better than my Infinities? "yes" (note: jazz music - with lots of voice - imagine norah jones - was playing)
better than the B&W 603 s3? "what speaker was that?" (having dragged her to many many places demo'ing speakers ... I had to give the when and where and the circumstances of that listening session)
she said "oh, those sound nice too" "but these sound better"

hmmm

i really really really don't hear a difference between the 2 b&w's. help! there's something wrong with my ears!! i want to have golden ears (for the sake of upgradeitis)!

 

[zumbo]

I have heard the two side-by-side, and I prefer the 805's by far. The 600 series just don't do it for me.

 

[mike c]

if you don't mind ...
can you put in words what's so special about the 805? I need to understand this.

 

[VS540]

If you can't hear the difference then that's just more money you save on speakers!

805's to me sound much better than the 600 series (I dislike the entire 600 series in general).

805's have much better imaging, larger soundstage, more detail, more texture, smoother midrange, are more defined, none of that "boxy & hollow" sound of the 600's. 805's are still too harsh/bright for my taste, but that's just me, as other's love that bright sound (all the better for them then).

Like I said though, if you can't tell, then don't worry about it and save some money.

 

[mike c]

but you see, I can't tell because I did not hear them in succession.

once I thought my HTIB satellites were great! til I heard them and bookshelves in succession (just then, I discovered the differences - although I don't know how to express in words the difference)

 

[ExtraCheese]

You're a lucky man to have such a patient girlfriend. I definetly second the, ""boxy & hollow" sound of the 600's." opinion, there's just no soul in the midrange. Of course, this is less obvious depending on what music you like. The B&W's did better with rock and electronic music, as I recall.

I would also agree that you shouldn't worry about not being able to immediatly hear the difference. It's a good thing that you don't let the price and the expensive look affect your opinions. I know that when I look at the 800 series I immediatly "want" to like them since they are so sexy. IMO. Even though I don't love the B&W sound.

 

[zumbo]

805's to me sound much better than the 600 series (I dislike the entire 600 series in general).

805's have much better imaging, larger soundstage, more detail, more texture, smoother midrange, are more defined, none of that "boxy & hollow" sound of the 600's. 805's are still too harsh/bright for my taste, but that's just me, as other's love that bright sound (all the better for them then).

All of this, but I tend to think they are some of the best tweeters. I LOVE hard domes done well, and B&W 800 series do them well.

P.S. I have not heard the new diamond domes.

 

[Buckle-meister]

i really really really don't hear a difference between the 2 b&w's. help! there's something wrong with my ears!

Perhaps, but perhaps not. Women's hearing is more sensitive to midrange than men. Perhaps this was the difference.

Solution: Sex change op. (but make damn sure this is the correct explanation first )